Plaiting machine



June 2, 1964 D. DEMAGNY 3,135,443

PLAITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

June 2, 1964 D. DEMAGNY 3,135,443

PLAITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g :Eh w

E C RT l Kung 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 D. DEMAGNY PLAITING MACHINE June 2, 1964 Filed Jan. 29. 1960 June 2, 1964 D. DEMAGNY mums MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 29, 1960 United States Patent O 3,135,443 PLAITING MACHNE Daniel Dernagny, 62 Rue Tiquetonne, Paris 2, France Filed Jan. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 5,537 Claims priority, application France Feb. 25, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 223-60) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 712,536, filed January 3l, 1958, now abandoned.

The invention relates to plaiting machines of the type having means for advancing paper, cloth or fabric in looped form into the bite of a pair of cooperating pressure rolls for creasing it and forming plaits therein, and more particularly to machines of the type adapted for making in a semi-automatic manner non-parallel plaits, such that the outer surfaces and/or the inner bellows-forming surfaces of the plaits may be formed with convergent edges.

It is another object of this invention to provide, in a machine of this character, improved control means for producing said non-parallel plaits in a strip of material having parallel edges.

Still another object is t provide means whereby a conventional plaiting machine operative to form parallel plaits can be readily converted into a machine for providing non-parallel plaits. p

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made Within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIGURE l is a side view showing a machine constructed according to the teachings of this invention, the righthand frame plate of the machine being removed to show the inner mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken across the axis of the comb driving shaft;

FIGURE 3 is a diagram showing the manner in which a sun plaiting is formed from a blank cut beforehand to a circular-sector configuration;

FIGURE 4 is another diagram showing the forming of parallel plaits from a parallel-edged strip blank, as usually formed on conventional machines, the plaits being assumed to be developed, open or laid flat;

FIGURE 5 shows in side view the plaited strip of the preceding figure with the plaits folded or issuing from the machine;

FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing the operation of a machine forming the sun plaits according to the conventional practice;

FIGURE 7 is a diagram showing the formation of the so-called widened plaits from a parallel-edged strip, the plaits being developed, open or laid flat;

FIGURE 8 is a similar diagram except that the plaits are shown as obtained from the machine;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan View showing the means provided for pivoting the slideways of the frame structure;

FIGURE 10 is a diagram similar to the diagram of FIG. 3, but showing the adjustment of the comb with a view to enable same to properly bear throughout the length of the plait-forming plate, and

FIGURE 11 is a diagram showing the necessity of this adjustment.

This invention utilizes the great majority of the components of conventional machines :designed for making parallel-edged plaits from strips or blanks of material having parallel edges or selvedges.

In order clearly to set forth the essential features and 3,135,443 Patented .lune 2, 1964 ICC advantages of this invention, and notably the novel arrangements and devices constituting the subject-'matter thereof, it is well to summarize brieiiy the main component elements of a conventional plaiting machine.

Such machine comprises, as a rule, two rolls consisting of straight cylinders disposed tangentially to each `other and having their shafts journalled in the side plates of the frame structure and driven for intermittent rotation through a connecting rod from a shaft rotating continuously; a pair of plait-forming plates consisting of two fixed blades secured on the frame of the machine and converging toward the bite or line of tangent contact of the two rolls; a comb consisting of two movable blades having each of their ends interconnected by a strut, the upper blade being adapted to pivot about a horizontal axis with respect to said struts; a shaft rigid with each of said struts, and, on either side of the machine, a link oscillating about a fixed fulcrum located intermediate its ends, said link having one end provided with a bearing having journalled therein the shaft of the corresponding strut, and its other end responsive to the contour of a cam keyed on the power shaft of the machine.

In order to permit the desired variation in the depth of the plait elements, it is known to make this fixed fulcrum in the form of a bolt or like pivot pin adapted to be locked in the proper adjustment position along a slot formed in a frame-supported bar or like member.

As the same adjustment is applied to both connecting rods, these will drive said struts in the same manner, so that the comb is reciprocated toward and away from the rolls, but in a manner to maintain its leading edge parallel to the common generatrix constituting the line of contact of the rolls.

As the material to be plaited is fed by the comb toward the bite of the rolls during the inoperative period of these rolls, the latter will receive the same quantity of material at either end and the plaits thus formed can only have parallel edges.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that, when plaits are to be formed wherein the outer surfaces (facings) and/ or inner surfaces (bellows) have non-parallel edges, the comb must be retracted to a greater extent at one end than at the other end, in order to take in a greater amount of material (for example fabric) at said one end than at the other end.

The machine according to this invention is therefore of the type broadly set forth hereinabove, but provided with means adapted to perform this twofold function.

To this end, a machine equipped in accordance with the teachings of this invention comprises two tapered rolls 1, 2 disposed tangentially to each other, their line of contact along their common tangent generatrix lying in a substantially horizontal plane, their inclined shafts 3 having their outer ends journalled in bearings carried by the side plates 4 of the machine frame, and having keyed on the same side a pair of meshing pinions 9 of same diameter, as shown in dash-dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings. One of these pinions 9 is rotated intermittently by a connecting rod 5 driven in turn from a shaft 6 rotating continuously (this shaft 6 being operatively connected for example to the power shaft 10 of the machine through gears not shown); a pair of plait-forming plates 7 consisting of fixed blades secured on the frame of the machine and converging toward the line of contact X-X of rolls 1, 2; a comb 8 consisting of a pair `of movable blades 8a, 8b, the lower blade Sb having either end secured on struts 11, the upper blade 8a being adapted to oscillate at the proper moment with respect to said struts (in a known manner, due to the kinematic connection provided between this blade and the power shaft 10, this connection comprising a cam 12 keyed on this shaft and a roller or like follower 13 engaging the operative con- 3 tour of this cam, said roller being carried by a lever 14 supporting in turn the plate 15 engaged by the roller 17 carried by the curved lever 16, the upper end of this lever 16 being secured to the blade 8a, as shown).

As the machine is exactly symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal axis YY, the following description will be limited to only one side thereof, it being understood that corresponding components are disposed symmetrically on the opposite, non-described side of the machine.

The strut 11 has a slideway 11a (for example of dovetail cross-section) formed therein, which is engaged by a corresponding slide 19a formed on a member 19, a bolt 20 being provided for locking the slideway 11a in the desired adjustment position.

This member 19 is also formed with a recess having fitted therein the outer race of a self-aligning bearing 21, the inner race of which is slidably fitted on a shaft 2&2 rigid with another slide 23 co-acting with a slideway 24 formed in a member slidably fitted in turn in relation to the frame 4 of the machine due to the provision of another slideway 25; a bolt 26 is similarly provided for locking the slide 23 in its corresponding slideway 24. A cylindrical pin 27 emerges from the outer face of the slideway 24 and is mounted by means of a bearing 28 in the upper portion 29a of a link 29 adapted to be oscillated from an eccentric 30 mounted on the power shaft 10. As in conventional machines, this link has a fulcrum axis Z--Z intermediate its ends, which may consist of a pivot pin or bolt 31 for adjustably assembling a slide 32 displaceable with respect to the link 29 and a bar 33 rigid with the frame 4 of the machine.

It is clear that the comb driving device must be variable in length in order to permit the oblique mounting of this comb; to this end, the shaft 22 is slidably mounted in the bearing 21, but this adjustment is required only on one side; therefore, a nut 34 may be screwed on the threaded end of shaft 22 and adapted to clamp the inner race of this bearing 21 against the stop-forming end gasket 35.

Whereas in conventional machines, the axis Z-Z is constantly perpendicular to the axis Y--Y and the lateral bolts (corresponding to bolts 31) on either side of the machine must be adjusted, so as to be in relative alignment or co-extensive (see the diagram of FIG. 4), in order to ensure a proper operation of the machine and produce plaits having parallel edges, in the machine constituting the subject-matter of this invention, the adjustments of the respective position of these bolts 31 on either side being different from one another in most instances for the reasons set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the diagram of FIG. 3, it will be noted that the leading edge A of comb 8 should be substantially coincident with the line of contact X-X of the common generatrix of the rolls, in the forward position of the comb (as shown in thick lines), or more precisely this leading edge should be parallel to this line of contact being positioned at a very short distance a therefrom, whereas in the maximum retracted position (in dash-dotted lines) this leading edge lies at A1, that is, obliquely in relation to the line X-X.

If C and D are the centers of bearings 21, it will be seen that the axis C-D is inclined in the retracted posi- .tion (C1, D1)

Considering that the lateral slideways 25 permit only a movement of translation of the slide 24, on which the elements 23 and 22 are secured by means of the bolts 26, it is necessary to break the line G1, C1, D1, H1 passing through the centers'of bearings 21 and 28. This is obtained at C1, D1 in the case of bearings 21 and members 19, the latter acting somewhat as swivel joints; any other similar and adequatedevice, for example universal or ball-and-socket joints, may be substituted for these bearlngs.

i Thus, by so adjusting the bolts 31, that the one lying on the side of the small end of the rolls allows the upper end 29a of the link 29 concerned to accomplish a movement of greater amplitude than the upper end of the opposite link 29, the comb 8 will take more material on the small end side and this material will be carried along adequately by the rolls, whereby a plait having non-parallel edges will be obtained. To the best of my knowledge, this result has not been obtained on any automatic machine.

In order better to understand the principles on which this invention is based, reference may be made to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, which show diagrammatically a comparison between the main components of the machine of this invention and those of known machines.

These diagrams illustrate similarly the initial shape of the blank to be plaited and the shape ofthe plaits as formed by the machine (for the sake of simplicity and convenience in the drawings, these plaits are shown in their developed or open form in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7).

FIG. 4 is a diagram taken in connection with a conventional machine (for example a Chandler plaiting machine) for making parallel plaits. The reference numeral 202 designates the lower roll (the upper roll is assumed to be removed) and the comb 208 is in its retracted position to take the material necessary for completing the plait thus commenced (P1 and P2 are the portions carried along by the comb, and P3 the portion carried along by the rolls).

From a fabric blank P having parallel selvedges, plaits having strictly parallel edgesY are obtained due on the one hand to the straight shape of roll 202 and to the rectilinear displacement of the comb 208 on account of the rigidity of the driving assembly consisting of the comb 208 and stub shafts 222, and on the other hand to the identical drive provided by the links 229.

FIG. 5 is a corresponding side View of the plaits of FIG. 4, but showing the plaits as issuing by the machine.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a known machine (for example a Danty plaiting machine) adapted to form the so-called sun or convergent plaits from a blank having the shape of a circular sector with a radius R1. The center O of this circular sector is coincident with the center line of the tapered roll 302, the center of rotation of comb 308 and the center of the finished or pleated piece with a radius R2. The plaits thus obtained by using a comb of a given convergence (corresponding to the position of the center O) have in all cases the same convergence ratio corresponding to the roll taper.

If we compare FIGS. 3 and 6, we see that both machines are adapted to produce sun or convergent plaits, but with the machine of this invention, the convergence of the plait valleys is not subordinate to the convergence of the rolls; thus, the convergence of the plait valleys may have any desired value.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram obtained with a machine constructed according to the teachings of this invention.

It will be noted that if the center O of the operating circle thus obtained is, at the same time, the center of the roll taper, the fabric blank T has rectilinear selvedges before it is introduced into the machine, and the center Q1 of the axis of tilting P-P of the comb lies on the side corresponding to the big end of the rolls. Q1 is symmetric to Q in relation to the median line Y-Y of the machine.

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7, but vthe workpiece is assumed to be in its final condition, that is, with the plaits formed and maintained in a more or less closed position.

' It will be seen that, without modifying the component elements of this machine and by altering only the position of the axes Z-Z, it is possible to perform on this machine, at will, either sun plaits from a blank having the shape of a circular sector, or pseudo sun plaits (also called widened plaits), from a strip having parallel edges.

If we consider jointly FIGS. 3 and 7 referring to the same machine, we see that the axis of tilting of the comb S has its center of rotation disposed differently.

From a blank having the shape of a circular sector, the machine illustrated in FIG. 3 will form sun plaits having non-parallel edges, that is, plaits wherein the apparent surface and the inner surface (bellows) are bound by convergent lines; on the contrary, if the blank has parallel selvedges, the machine illustrated in diagrammatic form in FIG. 7 will form pseudo sun plaits, wherein the apparent surfaces has convergent edges and the inner or bellows surface has divergent edges.

If we consider carefully the diagram of FIG. 3, we see that the point A of the leading edge of the comb will describe (whether it moves toward or away from the rolls) a circular arc having its center coincident with the virtual center of rotation of the comb. As a consequence, the material to be plaited receives a skew thrust, the repetition of which might cause it to Contact one of the side plates of the frame structure of the machine. To avoid this inconvenience, means are provided for imparting a zig-zag movement to the material to be plaited, the longitudinal center line of this material being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the machine Y-Y only during one-half of the movement of the comb away from the rolls (for example one-half of the Sum T 1|T2 of FIG. 7), that is, when the rolls have accomplished one-half of their rotation. It is in this position of the component elements that the material to be plaited is introduced in order to take advantage of this specific position of its longitudinal axis.

In FIG. 7, it is also apparent that the virtual line separating the zones T2 and T3 from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y--Y of the machine; the position of the comb at half-stroke corresponds to this line.

To avoid any skew movement of the material to be plaited, the lateral ydisplacement of the leading edge of the comb, which is caused by its pivotal movement, as it is fed forward (from A1 to A, FIG. 3) is compensated by a lateral displacement of the comb in the opposite direction. This displacement is obtained due to the possibility of inclining the slideways 25 in relation to the frame 4, so as to bring the point A1 back to point A2 on the longitudinal axis Y-Y (FIG. l0).

To this end, the slideway members 25 are pivoted by means of a pin 36 on a plate 37 secured on the frame 4. This pivotal mounting makes it possible to set the slideways in the position consistent with the aforesaid compensation. The slideway members are then locked in the proper adjustment position by tightening the bolt 38 Of course, this arrangement requires a complementary break on either side of the axis of tilting. To this end, the bearings 28 are also of the self-aligning type unless ball-and-sock'et joints, universal joints, or the like are substituted therefor.

To permit the skew adjustment of the slideways 25, it is necessary to tighten the nut 34 on the relevant side, the other nut 34 on the opposite side being loosened in order to permit the axial sliding displacement of shaft 22 in the inner race of bearing 21 due to the necessity of elongating the zone externally of this bearing, for example D1, H1 (FIG. 3).

It may also be pointed out that in the machine of this invention, due to the conicity of the rolls, the plait forming plates 7, which are at to properly engage a generatrix of one of these rollers, are of trapezoidal configuration.

Due furthermore to the conicity of these rolls and to the pivoting movement performed by the comb, the latter must be so adjusted as to engage throughout the length of its leading edge not only one of these rolls, but also the relevant plait-forming plate. This adjustment made with a view to modify the angle of inclination of the tilting axis G1, C1, D1 and H1 is obtained by means of the slideways and slides 11, 19a, 23 and 24, the bolts 20 and 26 holding the elements in the position consistent with the shape and dimensions of the plaits (see FIGS. 2 and 10).

If we compare FIGS. 3 and l0, we see that in the diagram of FIG. 10, the axis G, C, D, H, is a broken line in the forward position of the comb, Whereas in FIG. 3 this axis is a straight line. This break results from a dierent adjustment of the aforesaid slideways.

FIGURE l1 shows the position of the ends M and N of the leading edge of comb 8, when the latter is in its position remotest from the rolls, as the edge Nl--Ml must remain in permanent contact with the plait-forming plate concerned (in this case the upper plate 7), it is necessary that the axis of tilting intersects the two ends of the comb at points having different locations with respect to the comb.

If we compare FIGS. 10 and l1, we see that this axis of tilting passes at 11 near the rear limit of the comb and, on the contrary, at an intermediate point along the side K1.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Thus, notably, the table 39 (FIG. l) may be oscillated in its plane in order to move it bodily with the material to be plaited as the direction of movement of this material is modified. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In combination in a plaiting machine comprising a frame having two side plates, a power shaft, two tapered rolls disposed tangentially to each other, the conicity of said rolls having the same direction of convergence, inclined shafts carrying said rolls and being journaled in said side plates of the machine frame, pinions keyed on said shafts and in meshing engagement with each other, means for intermittently driving said rolls for rotation about their axes, a pair of fixed plait-forming plates secured on said frame and converging toward the line of contact of said rolls, a comb consisting of a pair of movable blades, a strut interconnecting said blades to each other at either end, said movable blades comprising an upper blade pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to said struts, members supported by said frame, slideways formed in said members, a pair of horizontal shafts extending through said slideways, a universal joint rigidly assembling each of said horizontal shafts to one of said struts, links disposed externally of said slideways and driving the outer end of said horizontal shafts, a cam keyed on said power shaft and tilting said shaft about an intermediate fulcrum formed by a pivot pin adjustably secured on the frame, the position of said fulcrum in relation to one of said links being independent of the position of the pivot of the other link.

2. In combination in a plaiting machine comprising a frame having two side plates, a power shaft, two tapered rolls disposed tangentially to each other, the conicity of said rolls having the same direction of convergence, inclined shafts carrying said rolls and being journalled in said side plates of the machine frame, pinions keyed on said shafts and in meshing engagement with each other, means for intermittently driving said rolls for rotation about their axes, a pair of fixed plait-forming plates secured on said frame and converging toward the line of contact of said rolls, a comb consisting of a pair of movable blades, a strut interconnecting said blades to each other at either end, said movable blades comprising an upper blade pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to said struts, members supported by said side plates of the machine frame and adapted t0 pivot in relation thereto about a vertical axis and to be locked in the desired adjustment position by means of a locking bolt, slideways formed in said members, a pair of horizontal shafts extending through said slideways, a universal joint rigidly assembling each of said horizontal shafts to one of said struts, links disposed externally of said slideways and driving the outer end of said horizontal shafts, a cam keyed on said power shaft and tilting7 said shaft about an intermediate fulcrum formed by a pivot pin adjustably secured on the frame, the position of said fulcrum in relation to one of said links being independent of the position of the pivot of the other link.

3. In combination in a plaiting machine comprising a frame having two side plates, a power shaft, two tapered rolls disposed tangentially to each other, the conicity of said rolls having the same direction of convergence, inclined shafts carrying said rolls and being journalled in said side plates of the machine frame, pinions keyed on said shafts and in meshing engagement with each other, means for intermittently driving said rolls for rotation about their axes, a pair of fixed plait-forming plates secured on said frame and converging toward the line of contact of said rolls, a comb consisting of a pair of movable blades, a strut interconnecting said blades to each other at either end, said movable blades comprising an upper blade pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to said struts, members supported by said side plates of the machine frame and adapted to pivot in relation thereto about a vertical axis and to be locked in the desired adjustment position by means of a locking bolt, slideways formed in said members, a pair of horizontal shafts extending through said slideways, a universal joint rigidly assembling each of said horizontal shafts to one of said struts, links disposed externally of said slideways and driving the outer end of said horizontal shafts, another universal joint being provided between each of said links and the respective horizontal shaft, a cam keyed on said power shaft and tilting said shaft about an intermediate fulcrum formed by a pivot pin adjustably secured on the frame, the position of said fulcrum in relation to one of said links being independent of the position of the pivot of the other link.

4. A plaiting machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said universal joints consist of self-aligning bearings.

5. In combination in a plaiting machine comprising a frame having two side plates, a power shaft, two tapered rolls disposed tangentially to each other, the conicity of said rolls having the same direction of convergence, inclined shafts carrying said rolls and being journalled in said side plates of the machine frame, pinions keyed on said shafts and in meshing engagement with each other, means for intermittentently driving said rolls for rotation about their axes, a pair of fixed plait-forming plates secured on said frame and converging toward the line of contact of said rolls, a comb consisting of a pair of movable blades, a strut interconnecting said blades to each other at either end, said movable blades comprising an upper blade pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to said struts, members supported by said side plates of the machine frame and adapted to pivot in relation thereto about a vertical axis a locking bolt locking said members in the desired adjustment position, slideways formed in said members, a pair of horizontal shafts extending through said slideways, a rst bearing rigid with one of said struts slidably mounted on each of said horizontal shafts, links disposed externally of said slideways and driving the outer end of said horizontal shafts, another bearing being tted in the upper portion of each of said links and receiving the outer end of the respective horizontal shaft, a cam keyed on said power shaft and tilting said shaft about an intermediate fulcrum formed by a pivot pin adjustably secured on the frame, the position of said fulcrum in relation to one of said links being independent of the position of the pivot of the other link.

6. In combination in a plaiting machine comprising a frame having two side plates, a power shaft, two tapered rolls disposed tangentially to each other, the conicity of said rolls having the same direction of convergence, inclined shafts carrying said rolls and being journalled in said side plates of the machine frame, pinions keyed on said shafts and in meshing engagement with each other, means for intermittently driving said rolls for rotation about their axes, a pair of fixed plait-forming plates secured on said frame and converging toward the line of Contact of said rolls, a comb consisting of a pair of movable blades, a strut interconnecting said blades to each other at either end, said movable blades comprising an upper blade pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to said struts, said struts consisting of two elements sliding in relation to each other along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said machine, a bolt locking said elements in relation to each other, members supported by said side plates of the machine frame and adapted to pivot in relation thereto about a vertical axis, a locking bolt locking said members in the desired adjustment position, slideways formed in said members, a pair of horizontal shafts extending through said slideways, a first self-aligning bearing rigid with one of said struts slidably mounted on each of said horizontal shafts, links disposed externally of said slideways and driving the outer end of said horizontal shafts, another selfaligning bearing fitted in the upper portion of each of said links and receiving the outer end of the respective horizontal shaft, a cam keyed on said power shaft, said cam driving said links, and tilting said shaft about an intermediate fulcrum formed by a pivot pin adjustably secured on the frame, the position of said fulcrum in relation to one of said links being independent of the position of the pivot of the other link.

7. Plaiting machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said outer sliding elements of said struts is rigid with the outer race of one of said self-aligning bearings.

8. In combination in a plaiting machine comprising a frame having two side plates, a power shaft, two tapered rolls disposed tangentially to each other, the conicity of said rolls having the same direction of convergence, inclined shafts carrying said rolls and being journalled in said side plates of the machine frame, pinions keyed on said shafts and in meshing engagement with each other, means for intermittently driving said rolls for rotation about their axes, a pair of fixed plait-forming plates secured on said frame and converging toward the line of contact of said rolls, a comb consisting of a pair of movable blades, a strut interconnecting said blades to each each other at either end, said movable blades cornprising an upper blade pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to said struts, members supported by said side plates of the machine frame and adapted to pivot in relation thereto about a vertical axis, a first locking bolt locking said members in the desired adjustment position, slideways formed in said members, horizontal shafts consisting of two sections, each shaft section being rigid with one of said members and constituting a sliding assembly, a second locking bolt locking said members in relation to each other, one of said sections of each horizontal shaft extending through said slideway members, a first self-aligning bearing the outer race of which is rigid with the outer element of one of said struts, the other section of said shafts sliding in said bearing, links disposed externally of said slideways and driving the outer end of said horizontal shafts, another bearing being fitted in the upper portion of each of said links and receiving the outer end of the respective horizontal shaft, a cam keyed on said power shaft, said cam driving said links and tilting said shaft about an intermediate fulcrum formed by a pivot pin adjustably secured on the frame, the position of said fulcrum in relation to one of said links being independent of the position of the pivot of the other link.

9. A plaiting machine for plaiting a plaitable material comprising a frame, tWo spaced rotatable pressing rolls on said frame, a comb feeding said material to said rolls, driving means for imparting to said comb a reciprocating movement toward, and away from, said rolls, and means retracting one end or" said comb to a greater eX- tent than the other end.

References Cited in the ie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 27, 1960 

9. A PLAITING MACHINE FOR PLAITING A PLAITABLE MATERIAL COMPRISING A FRAME, TWO SPACED ROTATABLE PRESSING ROLLS ON SAID FRAME, A COMB FEEDING SAID MATERIAL TO SAID ROLLS, DRIVING MEANS FOR IMPARTING TO SAID COMB A RECIPRO- 